Company Handbook

THE PERFORMANCE COMPANY
HANDBOOK 2019-2020

MISSION STATEMENT

BJSD Performance Company was created for the dancer who loves
dance and wants to grow their art form and have a passion for performing. Our
goal is to provide all dancers with opportunities to develop their art form
through classes, competition & community performance. Welcome to BJSD
Performance Company! We are so excited to have you as part of our artistic
community and competitive team!

THE PERFORMANCE COMPANY

Following auditions, we invite our students to be a part of The
Performance Company. In company class all students will learn pieces for
community events as well as for competitions. We also provide special opportunities for our
dancers to participate in extra pieces such as small groups, trios, duets &
solos that we take to our scheduled competitions, community performances & also
perform in our Spring Recital. These are all different styles of dance and are determined
by your company teacher from your audition. We at BJSD believe in giving our
company dancers as much opportunity as possible with bringing in master classes
with professional teachers and also giving our students an opportunity to
participate in a national dance convention.

THE SCHEDULE AND REQUIREMENTS

Your Performance Company teacher this
year will be Miss Tina. Class will be held on Wednesday’s from 5:00-6:30pm.

As a requirement of company, it is
mandatory to participate in a jazz and ballet, jumps, leaps and turns is
required for all students age 13 and up or level 4. Levels for classes are 2,3,4
& 5. In your welcome email you should have received your company level and required
classes. Please email the studio or ask at registration if you are unsure.
Assigned levels help with the growth of each student and are determined through
the audition process.

Extra piece schedules and pricing
will be sent out to each individual student.

It is a requirement for all students
to participate in a national dance convention.

DRESS CODE

Students are to wear a black body
suit, black dance shorts with tan tights with no holes & Tan jazz shoes. If
additional shoes are needed for performances you will be notified as soon as
possible. Only tightly fitted shirt, company shirt or studio warm up can be
worn over leotard while warming up. Boys should wear black Dance pants or shorts with jazz shoes and Company t
shirt.

Hair must be in a secure bun. No
jewelry or additional accessories. Small stud earrings are ok.

The importance of being in uniform
shows and teaches our students professionalism & responsibility. This
policy is being strictly enforced. Students not in Company uniform will receive
a warning for the first offense, second offense students will be asked to sit
during class and third offense parents will be called.

ATTENDANCE & COMMITMENT

Regular attendance at all classes is expected
of all Company dancers. Absences negatively affect not just the missing
dancer, but the team as a whole. To the largest extent possible, all
Company dancers must be present in all classes and rehearsals the week prior to
every performance and competition. If you know you will be absent, please
notify the studio as soon as possible by email or phone. BJSD expects Company
dancers to prioritize their company dance commitments, and only legitimate
family emergencies, sicknesses or injuries will be considered excused
absences. If injured, we request the student to watch class if
truly able. Absences will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Should a
dancer be found to be violating these standards through excessive absenteeism, we
reserve the right remove a student from extra pieces or The Performance
Company.

COMMUNICATION POLICY

BJSD primarily communicates by blast emails. We also
maintain a Facebook group for the Performance Company team that will be a
source of disseminating information. We recommend that you join this
group if at all possible. You must make sure that we have a current email
and cell phone number for you at all times. The BJSD Performance Company
directory will be distributed for parents to use communicating with
each other and making competition arrangements, and will be loaded in the
Facebook group. We also use a Group Me application as an additional resource
during our Performance Outings and Competition Events.

BJSD follows Springfield Township School District regarding weather
closures. We will post any closures on our Studio and Company Facebook
pages, so check there if in doubt.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Being a member of the BJSD Performance Company is an
honor. When you wear the team jacket outside of the studio, you represent
the team and studio, and will be held to the highest standard of conduct.
Company members are expected to show courtesy and respect to teachers and other
students at the studio, and to be exemplary role models for the entire team.
Any student displaying continuous disrespectful behavior to teachers or other
students will be asked to leave BJSD.

COMPETITIONS AND PERFORMANCES

BJSD Performance Company will attend competitions & participate
in a national dance convention. Attendance at these events is mandatory.
Community performances are required and if attendance cannot be made, we expect
you to provide advance notice to the studio and teacher. Only 1 missed
community performance will be excused. Communications must come through an
official studio email. Communication should not be sent through another
student. If competitions offer free master classes, we expect Company dancers
to take advantage of this offered training and to attend. All
competitions are held on weekends and are a full day, and possibly a full
weekend, commitment. We often don’t know from the competition
management until a week in advance what the schedule will be, so you will need
to be available for the entire weekend until we know which levels are dancing
when, and when the master classes will be held. Extra rehearsals may be
called, particularly for public performance pieces. BJSD will endeavor to
provide as much advance notice as possible to dancers and families.

Every competition dancer must attend their awards
ceremonies. BJSD Performance Company dancers are expected to display good
sportsmanship, and be respectful and gracious to competitors and event staff
alike. If at any time a dancer is disrespectful or rude to another dancer
or studio, they will be benched for the next competition and may be removed
from the Performance Company team. Where possible, we encourage dancers
to support and encourage each other by attending their group performances and
cheering them on.

It is important to understand that the “competition” aspect of
being a member of BJSD Performance Company should be considered a “performance”
opportunity. Results are strictly subjective and your child’s growth
should not be completely gauged by their scores or achievements at
competitions. It is important to keep your competition experience
positive and most importantly, be proud of the growth and development that
occurs with each dancer. We do not foster competition within our Company,
and all we ask from our students is that each works to their fullest
capacity. We understand that each child is unique, and is a gift to
us whom we are privileged to teach.

TRAVEL, LODGING & CHAPERONES

We have tried to select competitions that are local and do not
require overnight stays, though many choose to stay overnight for
convenience. All Company dancers must have a chaperone for all
competitions or other performances outside the studio. All travel
arrangements are your responsibility. Competition details and schedules
will be supplied as far in advance as possible. Wherever you stay (if
overnight stay is required), you are required to meet with your team for competitions,
warm-up, parent meetings, and/or practice at the designated time and place.

FINANCIAL

Being part of the Performance Company requires a certain
financial commitment. Dancers must take additional required classes, pay
competition fees, costume fees, and pay for miscellaneous additional items
related to competition. We will provide an itemized bill as quickly
as possible with details relating to this year’s costs. We do have occasional
fundraising options information for these is usually generated through our
company Facebook page or in a scheduled meeting and a main contact parent will
be running the event.

Monthly Bill –
Payments for all classes are due on the 1st of the month. If monthly
payments are not received by the 10th of the month, a $15 late fee will be
automatically applied to the account.

Costumes –
Costume fees must be paid in November. Your child’s costume will not be
ordered until paid in full.

Competition Fees –
Competition fees are due in January.

Refund Policy- If a student decides to step away
from company during the year, no refunds will be given for costumes and other
fees paid towards company.

STUDIO ETIQUETTE

Dancers should try to arrive 10 minutes early
to their scheduled class so they are dressed and ready to dance at the
start of class.

Dancers will give teachers respect during
class by not talking back, coming prepared, having hair properly secured,
and in proper dance clothes.

There will be no disruptive talking during
class, or hanging on the barres or touching the mirrors at any time.

Cell phone use is permitted in the lobby area
only. There will be no tolerance of inappropriate behavior in or outside
the classroom.

There is no eating in the dance rooms. No gum
or candy will be allowed in class, and the only beverages permitted are
water in a closed container.

Dancers will attend all classes at a
convention and understand that they represent BJSD while doing so.

Dancers will wear designated team gear at
competitions, conventions and other arena when representing BJSD.

NON-COMPETE

BJSD Dancers cannot compete with any other competitive dance
studios and may not take technique classes or private lessons elsewhere.
This does not include master classes, intensives or conventions.

AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF IMAGE OR LIKENESS AND RELEASE

I hereby irrevocably grant to Beth Jacobsen
School of Dance, its employees and successors in interest (collectively “The Performance
Company”) the right to interview me and to take, use, reproduce, exhibit,
display, broadcast, distribute, edit, alter and create derivative works of
audio and visual materials of me (alone or with others) and my name, image,
voice, and likeness. I understand and agree that the Performance Company
owns the audio and visual materials and all rights related to them. I
hereby irrevocably permit and authorize the Performance Company to use my name,
image, voice and likeness for any lawful purpose and in any form whatsoever,
including but not limited to use in the Performance Company’s events,
activities, products, services, promotions, advertisements, and marketing
materials. I waive the right to inspect or approve any finished materials
wherein my name, image, voice, or likeness appears, and any right to royalties
or other compensation arising or related to the use of such materials by the
Performance Company. I hereby completely and unconditionally release the Performance
Company from any and all claims, demands and causes of action which, I, my
heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons acting
on my behalf of my estate have or may have by reason of this authorization and
release and the creation or use of materials wherein my name, image, voice or
likeness appears.

PARTICIPANT LIABILITY WAIVER POLICIES

As a participant or participant’s parent/legal guardian, I
understand that participating in any dance class, workshop, rehearsal or
performance involves a possibility of physical injury. I therefore agree
to assume all risks of any such injury that might occur during any class, rehearsal,
or performance of Beth Jacobsen School of Dance. I agree to waive any and
all claims I may have arising out of, connected with or in any way associated
with the Beth Jacobsen School of Dance. I do hereby fully release and
discharge Beth Jacobsen School of Dance, its owners, employees, assistants, and
instructors from any and all claims from injuries, damages or loss which I or
my minor child may have or which may occur as a result of participation in
BJSD’s activities.

PARENT ROLE & COMMITMENT

Parents are expected to be supportive, respectful, and courteous
to all team members and their families at all times. Your role is to encourage
your child to work their hardest, and to support all of the Performance Company
dancers without negativity or criticism of studio decisions. Help your
child learn to give a hand to those who may be behind or struggling, and by
working with the teaching staff, you will show your child that you stand firm
with their teachers.

Please review this entire handbook with your
child and have turned in by the first week of class.

Understanding all of the above, I commit fully
to this dance season and place my commitment to rehearsals, competitions and
classes as a top priority. I am aware that my dancer may be removed from
a dance due to excessive absences. If my dancer is ill I will notify the
studio immediately. If my dancer goes on vacation, I need to notify the
studio two or more weeks in advance in writing. I will do my best
to make Company a positive experience for my child, and help them continue to
explore their love of dance.